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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

There is an excellent new NASA publication, SP-2006-557, Reference Guide to the International Space Station edited by Gary Kitmacher.

From the introduction:

This book is designed to provide a broad overview of the Station's complex configuration, design, and component systems, as well as the sophisticated procedures required in the Station's construction and operation.

What sets this guide apart from other references is its full-color, illustrated layout. There are exploded diagrams of each component; fold-outs detailing station-wide life support and control systems; a step-by-step construction timeline that incorporates both illustrations and photography of the real hardware, either in space or on the ground; crew rosters, and much more.

Two sample pages:

Per the editor, many copies have already been distributed within the program. If you are interested in obtaining your own, you should write to the Space Station Program, JSC and request a copy. Apogee books is also reportedly considering republishing it.

Kitmacher says that a similar publication may be in the works for the NASA's Exploration architecture.

cspg

Had the chance to see a draft copy of it. It's just truly brilliant, magnificent, I'm running out of words. This is THE kind of books I'd like to have (and see more often).

I still don't get it why publishers don't come up with such amazing books (except for costs maybe).

GoesTo11

Has anyone tried to get a copy of this book? I was unable to find any reference to it on the JSC site or on the NASA Publications pages...If anyone has more specific info regarding who I might contact, I would be very grateful.

cspg

I don't have any news from NASA regarding this book. Same thing regarding the LLRV monograph. But since both are not published by NASA HQ (JSC and Dryden) and communications (or lack of) being minimal at best, I guess we'll have to wait.

Each center has its own distribution system and I don't have any clue as to how things will eventually turn regarding the distribution of both publications.

keith.wilson

Reference Guide to the International Space Station will be published by Apogee Books on November 21st I believe.

ISBN-10: 1-894959-34-5

ISBN-13: 978-1-894959-34-6

266 color photographs

198 color illustrations

25 color tables

2 color charts

astroborg

By the way, Gary frequents at least one of the Yahoo space modeling groups, and I've also bought some books from him off of eBay.

Robert Pearlman

Apparently, the NASA SP-version of the book is no longer available. All copies printed were given out.

That said, as mentioned above, the Apogee version should be available later this month. It will not feature fold-out pages and will be of a smaller format, but should be just as spectacular when seen in-person.

cspg

quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:Apparently, the NASA SP-version of the book is no longer available. All copies printed were given out.

Makes you wonder why they've printed it in the first place. It wasn't publicly announced (except on your website!) and not available anywhere else (NASA HQ, Government Printing Office).

ringo67

I just received my copy of Apogee's reprint of the Reference Guide to the International Space Station from Amazon today.

It is an incredible publication with information about all of the modules, launch vehicles and every flight that has flown to the ISS up to the middle of this year.

I would have loved to see this in a larger size, but this one of the best books I've seen on the station.

johntosullivan

Looking at the patches in this book's chapter on missions, I see they've used a non-standard patch for ISS Expedition 1 and for STS-112.

If this is an official NASA book, are these the official patches for these missions?

Robert Pearlman

The two patches were brought up elsewhere in discussion (though I can't recall if it was by e-mail or on another forum) and I believe Gary said that they were in error/driven by the availability of suitable graphics at the time of publication, and would be corrected in future versions (presumably Apogee and/or web distributed).

Does anyone know where I might inquire about purchasing the hard-copy edition of the "Assembly Complete" version of this book? I can't find any reference to it on either the GPO or NASA publications sites. Thanks!

CMikeW

I just picked up a copy of "Reference Guide to the International Space Station." The ISBN is 0-9710327-2-6. The NASA number is SP-2006-557. It has color covers and is spiral bound.

Looking on Bookfinder I find prices of $500 plus up to $2000 plus. Is this for real?